Blower for heating plants



Sept. 27, 1932.

S. LAUTER BLQWER FOR HEATING PLANTS Filed Sept. 11. 1930 Patented Sept.27, 1932 UNITED, STATES SAMUEL LAUTEB, OF CHICAGO, ELINOIS BLOWER FORHEATING PLANTS Application filed September 11, 1930. Serial No. 481,167.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofblower for use in connection with furnaces, boilers and similar heatingplants for creating an automatig cally controlled draft upwardly throughthe grate; to provide improved means for supporting the outlet end ofthe blower in the ash pit door of the heater; to provide animproved gatefor-controlling the-passage of air lothrough the blower which is adaptedto be opened by the current of air created by the blower fan; and toprovide improved adjustable means for yieldably resisting the open- .ingof said gate. 1e 4 An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shownin the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved draft regulator; the-.housing being partly broken away, and part of alieating plant beingshown in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved blower; themotor and fan being shown in elevation. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section,

taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation showing the manually operable knob forvarying the tension of the spring which resists the opening of the gate.

The improved blower herein shown is adapted for attachment to manydifferent types of heating plants. In the form shown, the blower isapplied to a boiler 1 having the usual fire box 2, grate, 3, ash pit 4,and

draft opening 5. 4

In the construction shown, the improved blower comprises a metal casingor shell 6 having open ends providing an air inlet 7 and an outlet 8.The shell tapers toward the outlet 8 and is provided with suitablehandles 9t?1 permit the device to be conveniently carr1e The inlet endof the shell is rigidly secured to a supporting bracket 10, of invertedU- shape, by means of bolts 11 and 12.

Supportedv on the bracket 10, is an electric motor 13 having ahorizontal shaft 14 which supports a fan 15 for forcing air outwardlythrough the opening 8. A suitable oil pipe .15 operated.

16 is provided for lubricating the motor bearings.

Connected to the motor, is an electrical conductor 17, which leads to amercury switch, not shown. The mercury switch is connected to the steamline in the well known manner so as to start the motor when the steampressure is low and so as to stop the motor when the steam pressurereaches a predetermined point. 5;

Located between the fan and the outlet 8, is a vertical screen 18securedto flanges 19, which are mounted on the inner wall of the Thell.A second screen 20 extends across the ower The outlet end of the shell 6is supported in a collar 21 formed on a vertical plate 22,

which is adapted to bear against the front ly from the closure plate 22,is a flange 23 adapted to fit within the opening 5, as shown in Fig. 1,for supporting the outlet end of the shell. f

Mounted on the closure 22, between the flange 23 and collar 21 isa hood24.- serving as a deflector for properly directing the air whichisforced out through the outlet 8. w

The flow of air through the outlet 8 is so controlled by a hinged gate25, which is secured to the collar 21 by a hinge pin 26, The gate 25 isarran ed so as to be automatically opened by the ow of air when the fan15 Opening of the gate 25 is yieldingl'y resisted by a spring 27. Oneend of the spring is connected to the gate and its other end isconnected to an arm 28 mounted on a. shaft 29, which is rotatablysupported in one side of the shell 6. The outer end of the shaft isprovided with an operating knob 30,

whereby the tension of the spring 27 may be varied for varying the throwof the gate25' 1* part of the shell directly in front of 5' the fan.

and consequently varying 'theamount of air 4 passing through the outlet.The knob 30 has anlindlcating finger 31 adapted to engage a rack 32 forholding the knob in its adjusted positions.

When the knob 30 is adjusted so as to place the spring 27 under tension,the spring closes the gate as soon as the fan stops rotating. When thespring is not under tension, as for instance, when a large amount ofdraft is desired, it is necessary to have additional means for closingthe gate as soon as the pressure of the steam in the heating plant hasreached the desired point. For this purposesuitable means is providedfor connecting the on a horizontal rock shaft 35 which is supported inthe shell 6. The shaft 35 also has an arm 36 connected to a link 37which is pivotally secured to the gate so that, as the diaphragm ismoved under the pressure of the steam, the cable 33 is raised forclosing the gate.

The improved blower herein shown is preferably enclosed in a removablehood or housing 38, which is adapted to rest on the floor in front ofthe boiler. One end of the hood.

is open and abuts the boiler, as shown in Fig. l, and the other endthereof is provided with louvers 39.. V I

In operation, the door of the ash pit is opened and the outletend of theshell 6 is inserted into the opening 5 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.The knob 30 is then adj usted to give the desired tension to the spring27. When the steam pressure of the heating plant falls below apredetermined point, the mercury switch, not shown, closes the motorcircuit and starts the fan 15, thereby creatmg a current of airwhichopens the gate 25. The air, after leaving the outletS, passes throughthe ash pit and upwardly through the grate.

When the steam pressure rises, the pressure diaphragm, not shown, raisesthe cable 33 and slowly closes the gate 25 thorugh the members 34, 35,36 and 37.

When the steam pressure reaches the deslred amount, the mercury switch,not shown, opens the motor circuit'so as to stop the fan.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshownand described, it will be understood. that certain details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an outlet,means for causing a flow of air through said casing, a gate movablymounted in said casing for controlling the passage of air through saidtrolling the passage of air through said outlet, said gate being adaptedto be opened by the air forced through said casing, a spring yieldablyresisting the o ening of said gate, means for adjusting tfi spring fromthe outside of said casing to limit the opening of said gate, and anindi-- cator on said adjusting means to indicate the extent of openingof said gate. Y

3. In a heatin plant having a fire grate and an ash pit un er saidgrate, a draft creating device comprising a body shell having open endsproviding an inlet and an outlet, means on said shell for creating aflow of air through said outlet, a gate movably mounted in-said outletand adapted to be automatically opened as the air is forced toward saidoutlet, said gate being normall urged toward a closed position, adjustabe means for limiting the opening of said gate and per-' mitting itsself-closin said adjustable means being arranged for a justment from theoutside of said body shell, and a deflector mounted on said shell abovesaid gate and positioned to cause an even spread of air across the underside of said fire grate.

4. In a heating plant having a draft door, a device comprising a bodyshell adapted to be supported horizontally and having open endsproviding an inlet and an outlet, a fan on said shell for creating aflow of air throu h said outlet, a gate movably mounted in sai outletand adapted to be opened only by the air forced through saidoutlet bysaid fan, a substantially vertical plate on said shell adjacent theoutlet, and a flange projecting outwardly from said plate for supportingthe outlet end of said shell in said draft door, said plate beingpositioned to act as a closure for said draft door.

5. In a heating plant having a fire grate and an ash pit'and a draftdoor on said ash pit, a device comprising a body shell adapted to besupported horizontally and having open ends providing an inlet and anoutlet, a fan on said shell for creating a flow of air through saidoutlet, a gate movably mounted in said outlet and adapted to be openedonly by the air, forced through said outlet by said fan, a substantiallyvertical plate on said shell adjacent the outlet, a deflector arrangedabove said gateand positioned to cause an even spread of air across theunder side of e tension of said a said fire grate, and a flangeprojecting outwardly from said plate for supporting the outlet end ofsaid shell in the draft door of a heating plant, said plate extending tothe floor on which the device rests and being positioned to serve as aclosure for said draft oor.

Signed at Chicago this 20th day of August,

1 SAMUEL LAUTER.

